It’s good to see GMP and Oldham Council working together to crack down on crime. Operation AVRO, which included a series of proactive arrests, warrant executions, traffic enforcement and public transport initiatives, is what local law-abiding people want: police forces and governments at every level who are aligned in their work to be tough on crime and tough on its causes.

Data shows that thanks to the hard work of the Oldham district team and the Labour-led council, over the last year arrests, solved crime rates, and emergency responses were up with the number of thefts, burglaries, robberies and vehicle offences down. While this is encouraging, we are not satisfied yet and certainly not complacent.

More needs to be done to continue this improvement, which is why I prioritised creating a safe place for the people of Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton at the election.

The government has already announced new powers for the police and local councils to tackle anti-social behaviour, with half a billion pounds of additional funding for policing coming this year. Labour has committed to bring back neighbourhood police in every community with 13,000 additional officers, PCSOs and special constables. We will also soon be legislating for both a Crime and Policing Bill and a Victims, Courts, and Public Protection Bill.

With Labour in power at every level of government, we are taking back our streets from crime and creating safer communities.

The Home Office has confirmed to Oldham Council it’s support for a locally led inquiry into safeguarding practices.

The centre of the next phase must be focused on the victims and survivors who deserve to have their voice heard, and justice secured.

It must act, as the previous Greater Manchester commissioned Assurance Review did, without fear or favour, and it must lead ultimately to those responsible for the abuse which took place to be held to account and to feel the full force of the law.

As a constituency MP I have been clear throughout that it is essential that the process carries the support of victims and survivors, and that it is open to all affected to come forward, regardless of the passage of time, or venue or circumstances of the abuse which took place.

Since the 2022 Greater Manchester Oldham Assurance Review, Greater Manchester Police have undertaken Operation Sherwood to identify and bring to book offenders, it is important that criminal prosecutions follow.

You can read my parliamentary contribution following the previous review here:

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-06-30/debates/537DD78E-671A-4B57-A6CA-E69A6DBD43CF/ChildSexualExploitationAndSafeguardingInOldham

With the House rising for the Christmas recess this week, the busy days have continued for me as Minister for Local Government and English Devolution.

This week saw the government publish our English Devolution White Paper, our measures to permanently put power back into the community, and taking back control of the place we live. Once put into Law, it will represent the biggest transfer of power away from Westminster to local people for a generation.

We are working together in partnership across central and local government through the Leaders Council to tackle head on the big issues facing local government and communities. We discussed the English Devolution White Paper, public sector reform, homelessness and resettlement as well as finances.

We also set out the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement this week, worth £69bn with an extra £3.7bn for social care and a new £600m Recovery Grant directed to areas with higher deprivation. We are getting on with fixing the foundations of local public services as part of our Plan for Change.

I’d like to wish everyone in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton who celebrates during the festive period a very Merry Christmas and hope you all have a Happy New Year!

It was a pleasure to support the Veterans Christmas Dinner over the weekend at the Hunt Lane Tavern in Chadderton.

The team with Eddy, Viv, Carl and Nigel and many others including Broughton House are inspiring.

It was a chance to laugh in great company and meet some amazing people.

Today we have announced the largest ever cash boost to support councils tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness. Nationally we are investing £1 billion into homelessness services and will end homelessness once and for all.

This announcement will have a huge impact on all of Oldham, but specifically on the 650 families currently presenting as homeless to the Council and the 700 households living in temporary accommodation. Oldham Council will receive over £2 million investment to funding programmes enabling greater support and intervention for those facing hardship.

Everyone deserves to have a safe and decent home, and today’s announcement is a fantastic step towards making this happen.

Today we set out the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement that secures £69 billion for the sector, with an extra £3.7 billion for social care and a new £600 million recovery grant for areas with higher deprivation.

After years of Tory cuts and fiscal mismanagement, we are finally giving local government the respect and support they deserve. As the former leader of Oldham Council, I know all too well that this is long overdue.

This Provisional Settlement is the first step in repairing the foundations of local government, rebuilding our public services, and shifting to a fairer system for all.

Following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper, I made the case to Parliament for how this Bill will be transformative for local places and local people.

I am proud that in cooperation we will deliver a new community ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets. This shall empower local people to bring spaces back into community ownership and end the blight of empty premises on our high streets.

This is about permanently putting power back into the community, and taking back control of the place we live. Whether it is our Town Halls in Chadderton & Royton, Oldham Coliseum, or the Civic Centre – these places are the fabric of our town, and they should be protected. Community right to buy will protect this now and forever.